Chhatra Dal Turns Aggressive from Peaceful Protest, Vandalizes RUCSU Office, Locks Gate

A peaceful sit-in by the Rajshahi University unit of Bangladesh Chhatra Dal (BCD) demanding voting rights for first-year students in the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU) election turned violent on Sunday morning. Around 10:15 AM, BCD activists vandalized a chair and toppled a large table at the RUCSU treasurer’s office veranda. By 10:30 AM, they locked the gate of the RUCSU building, halting the distribution of nomination forms for the election.

**Statement from RUCSU Treasurer and Chief Returning Officer**

Setaur Rahman, RUCSU treasurer and chief returning officer, stated, “Nomination form distribution was set to begin at 10 AM, but they blocked the gate, preventing entry. This disrupts the fair environment of the election. The nomination process is currently suspended. They are not protesting democratically but in a negative way. Including first-year students in the voter list would require canceling the current schedule, as their hall affiliations and ID cards are not yet finalized, which needs more time.” **Support from University Teachers’ Association** At around 10:30 AM, members of the University Teachers’ Association of Bangladesh (UTAB), Rajshahi University branch, expressed solidarity with Chhatra Dal’s protest. UTAB General Secretary Professor Jahangir Hossain said, “The university administration wants to hand over RUCSU to a specific group. We will not allow this. First-year students must be allowed to vote in RUCSU, and the environment for this must be created.” **Protest Details** The protest began at 9:30 AM in front of the RUCSU treasurer’s office at Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium, where Chhatra Dal activists gathered to demand voting rights for first-year students. During the sit-in, they chanted slogans like: “Who dares to take away first-year students’ voting rights?”; “We paid for RUCSU, we want to be voters”; “RUCSU is our right, who are you to deny it?”; and “Chhatra Dal’s pledge, first-year students will vote.” At one point, the protesters vandalized a chair and toppled a table, and by 10:30 AM, they locked the RUCSU building gate, disrupting the nomination process. **Chhatra Dal’s Ongoing Movement** For several days, Chhatra Dal has been protesting with a five-point demand, including voting rights for first-year students. While the election commission has assured addressing some demands, no decision has been made regarding the inclusion of first-year students in the voter list. The group has previously held protests and sit-ins for the same cause. On August 28, Chhatra Dal collected nomination forms for 28 posts in the RUCSU and Senate elections. **Nomination Details** According to Chhatra Dal sources, nomination forms were collected for 23 RUCSU posts and 5 Senate posts. Those who collected forms include Chhatra Dal’s organizational secretary Mahmudul Hasan, vice-presidents Nuruddin Abir and Jannatul Naim, joint general secretaries Jahin Biswas, Shah Muhammad Kafi, and Samad Mubin, office secretary Nafiul Islam, deputy office secretary Siyam Bin Ayub, human rights secretary Rafayetul Islam, publicity secretary Ar Rafi Khan, Bijoy 24 Hall president Gazi Ferdous Hasan, and Sher-e-Bangla Hall president MH James. **Election Commission Data** As of Thursday, the election commission reported that 199 candidates collected nomination forms for 23 RUCSU posts, 26 for 5 Senate posts, and 370 for various hall union posts. **Chhatra Dal President’s Statement** Sultan Ahmed (Rahi), president of the university’s Chhatra Dal unit, alleged, “The university administration deliberately excluded around 4,000 first-year students from the voter list. Admission processes and class start dates were repeatedly delayed to deprive them of voting rights. We have noticed the administration is deliberately slowing down first-year activities, clearly part of a conspiracy.” He further claimed that the administration’s failure to publish a photo-based voter list has turned the election into a farce and accused them of scheduling the vote on Durga Puja day to exclude Hindu students.

Rahi added, “Chhatra Dal has submitted memorandums, held human chains, protest marches, and rallies to press these demands. It is our moral duty to prevent any student from being deprived of their voting rights. We believe in zero tolerance. This RUCSU election is set to become a sham.”